America has warped our minds

Churchill immortalised the phrase the ‘special relationship’ in his 1946 ‘Sinews of Peace’ address. He was talking about the UK and the US. And when we think of America and Britain’s relationship, we think of the wars we’ve fought together and the diplomatic camaraderie we’ve shared over the past hundred years. We think of Iraq and Afghanistan. We think of Reagan and Thatcher waxing lyrical over the phone. But there’s something else that’s special about our relationship, and that’s Britain’s fascination with American culture.

I’ve spent my whole life watching America. We all have. Our social media accounts are full of American news, of American celebrities immodestly accepting awards, of American problems and American ideals. Why do we care so much? What is it about the place that we can’t get enough of? I’ve never been to America, but I know more about it than any other country besides my own.